Just like ’20 Miami game, LA Rams abandoned 12-personnel too soon

The LA Rams are not a novice NFL team, some sudden new entry into the NFL playoff discussions this year who have no idea what they are doing. This is presumed to be savvy battle-tested troops who have endured regular seasons and post-season play to the point that diagnosing what the opponents are doing should come second nature.

Once more, in a game where the running game began far more effectively for the offense than the passing game, the Rams abandoned the run and tried to pass their way to victory. And when the game was clearly going the way of the Tennessee Titans defensive line along the line of scrimmage, the LA Rams never thought to go with a far more robust two tight end offensive formation.

Apparently, old habits die hard.

Throughout the game, I scanned the football field for any signs of two tight ends but saw nothing. And today, my fears were confirmed when I checked the snap count on Lineups.com for the Rams offense to determine just how often the team sent tight end Kendall Blanton onto the football field.

Just two plays. Out of 76 offensive snaps, just two times did Blanton line up on the football field. That’s inexcusable.

While the perception is that the LA Rams offensive line has somehow plummeted from first to worst in a matter of minutes, the reality is that nobody on the coaching staff did a single thing to help them out. Even rookie wide receiver Ben Skowronek saw action on three plays. How would the strategy of placing Skowronek into the teeth of the Titans defense help turn around the offense in any way possible?